Maharashtra Chief Minister Intervenes in IIT Naming Controversy
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Wednesday that he would formally write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Education Ministry, requesting that IIT-Bombay be officially renamed as IIT-Mumbai. This significant development comes in response to mounting political pressure and criticism from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party.
The Controversial Remarks That Sparked the Row
The political controversy erupted after Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh made remarks during an event at IIT-Bombay on Monday that drew sharp criticism from regional political forces. Singh had stated, "As far as IIT Bombay is concerned, thank god it still is this name. You have not changed it to Mumbai." He further noted that the same situation applied to IIT Madras, which continues to retain its original name rather than being changed to Chennai.
Political Backlash and Demands for Apology
The comments triggered an immediate backlash from Raj Thackeray's MNS, which accused the Union minister of insulting Maharashtra and its cultural identity. Party leader Gajanan Kale launched a strong criticism against BJP leaders, asserting that they "never miss an opportunity to insult Marathi, Mumbai and Maharashtra." The MNS demanded that Mumbai BJP president Amit Satam and state minister Ashish Shelar visit Bal Thackeray's memorial to offer a formal apology for the remarks made by their party colleague.
The state government's decision to intervene directly in the matter underscores the sensitivity of regional identity issues in Maharashtra politics. Chief Minister Fadnavis's proactive approach aims to address the concerns raised by regional parties while following proper administrative channels by writing to the central government leadership.
